The Skies RPG
[
Draymond]'s house
[
Estantia]'s house
[
The Dizzy Raven]'s house
[
eyes of frost]'s house
Page eight
At the glacier's surface, the shockwave from the initial break finally reached the open air, catching Erador by suprise, flinging hundreds of chunks of ice at the large emerald dragon. Kiko and Equinox airbraked sharply with their wings, "whoa! I certainly hope I didn't do this..." observed Kiko in conern seeing that this was the very same glacier she did her magic test on with the ice castle of her creation. "Certainly not Kiko, the fissure is too deep," added Erador circling around, watching the glacier crack in east to west directions, flinging more ice into the air. "Look there!" exclaimed Equinox, whom spotted several of the rebels rocket out of the slowly closing fissure. "Rebels to be sure," observed Erador. The escaping group saw the three, paniced, if ever more possible at this point, and shot off elsewhere.
-Flarex! Hurry with Estantia! The gorge is closing slowly now, but it will accelerate to a close shortly! Come'on move your tail brother!- Nihara shouted mentally into this brother's mind, Estantia's as well.
"Go ahead!" yelled the female light dragon, shifting to an even smaller size as larger dragons whistled past, "There are bigger people behind me, I'm going to try and keep it open long enough!" Estantia looped out of the young dragons range and hovered, quickly finding her beating wings were getting in the way. With a growl she shifted again, this time to her human form, hands busily moving as she started to weave her magic into a net, a scaffold of sorts. It wouldn't be enough to stop it, but it slowed the closing a bit. Dragons were still rushing past her as she soared upwards, feeling the first real crush against her magic.
The girl closed her eyes as her arms snapped out, palms glowing as she held the walls apart, they were still closing, but if she hadn't been there they would have shut by now. As it was the last few stragglers shot out into the sunlight and Estantia opened her eyes to check before she dropped all the magics and shot upwards. For an instant the walls still held trembling as if a little confused at the lack of pressure, but then slammed towards each other with a roar as the golden streak raced for her life, hair streaming behind her as she whistled out of the fissure as it crashed to a close, though the golden mage still rose like a cork out of a bottle before shifting in a flurry of glittering scales to her dragon form, arcing over, wings spread in a shield as her tail rippled around to follow the line of her body, headed downwards to talk to the rebels again.
Through it all, the three that had stayed up top the entire time took notice, one by one, the fact that Equinox's children were present. "Flarex!?...
Nihara?, MERIDIAN?!" burst out Equinox. The angry and worried mother swooped down upon her flock, not quite noticing the primary group of volunteer dragons coming into view and descending towards them, however keeping distance from the rebels. Indignant groans came from the three children upon their mother's inspection of them. "
Mother..." they would say, drawing out the word as Equinox checked them over a second time to be safe before scooping them up where they stood in an embrace with both her large blue wings.
..."Mother, we've got to talk to the rebels...we're the only ones who partially trust us..." came the muffled plea of Nihara. "Sillyness, to think that mine own children would seek out the very dangers of this world, waltz up to them and talk over tea?" Erador drew level with mother and children with a slow walk, "Equinox, look east...I see Adromeda, Prometheon, and about eighteen others. All headed this way, but they seem wary enough to stay a distance from the rebels." Equinox nodded, not relinquishing her children from inside her wings naturaly made cave.
-Andromeda! Prometheon! What exactly have all of you done now my children?"-. Her mental query was strong, but full of worry and concern for her flock.
-We're finding the rebels to talk with them, since nobody else has done so yet...all the Queen would do would just 'put down the rebellion' without a single word spoken. We are taking that responsibility of words, not action.-
Nihara took the moment to break free, "Ethsa?...wher
e's Ethsane?!" Meridian poked her head around her mother's wing, "I saw her the whole way here...wait, she's with the female light dragon Estantia, look there!" "Oh, thank any multitude of gods..." said Nihara looking skyward. "Oh foolish children, how I love you so," crooned Equinox, pulling them close in an embrace before folding her wings at her sides. "Now go on, you'll be safe as long as Estantia is there. But remember, be even more cautious, I'm sure the rebels are in histeria about the glacier moving as it did," urged and cautioned Equinox encouraging the three forward with taps from her muzzle.
Erador swung his head towards Equinox, "I have a small duty for you," he said before looking back at Kiko for a moment. "We need to transport her away from here, preferably with the circling group with Adromeda and Prometheon." Flarex's ears twitched and he looked around back at the conversation purposely. Erador cast him a brief searching gaze before continuing, "Kiko, cannot be seen by the rebels...it would spell certain disaster. We need to hide her, camoflauge her so she can make the journey quickly. Preferrably a certain magic to shroud her form and make her invisible, however you flying abeam to her left to hide her from the rebel's views also would work, but has a higher degree of risk if both of you are seen flying, together". Erador took notice again to Flarex, "you've an idea son?" asked Erador, a grin tugging at the right side of his face.
Flarex winced at that term, "Well, it's actually Set's magic that did the shroud trick, with me boosting, but where is he anyway?" The multitude of larger dragons that were starting to land thumped to earth, curling tails round forelegs and sitting patiently catlike. One the specks however landed nearby and ran-glided to stand next to them. "Got out alive then?" He asked cheerfully before Flarex beckoned him over next to the blue dragon, where they proceeded to quietly shroud her. After another moment or two of fiddling both young dragons came trotting back triumphantly, holding up... a stick?
"It has the release spell set into it," Set explained, "It will get most of the cloak off, though it may stick in the folds of her body, if that happens just try peeling it away with your talons, it worked last time..."
Meanwhile Ethsa stood next to Estantia in the heart of the rebel group, waiting for the dragon with the oddly coloured eyes to reveal himself while Estantia was in a friendly argument with Althiren concerning whether she was nice or not; to be blunt, her injuring him and then helping the rebels out. They were having some almost good-natured fun in doing so as well.
"I understand," said a voice from the air, the only clue that Kiko was there were the prints from the feet, talons, and tail. Air and snow swirled as Kiko moved to a safer distance through the air. "Excellent, comendable job Set and Flarex," complimented Erador grinning. His face fell slightly when he looked at the distant rebel grouping, they were in a small niche created by tall chunks of ice in a semi-circle. "I'm afraid only children, or those small enough can approach safely without scaring the lot," observed Erador. "Aye," said Equinox, "Flarex, go on...you too Set."
Meanwhile, back at the gathering of rebels, a dragon slithered over the standing ice pillars to emerge at the center back of the gathered rebels. Revealed for the first time, the dragon with the one green eye, one blue, was a jet black. His musculature was modest, perfectly balanced with a fit body, legs and wings. The black dragon was also quite large, upwards of forty-five feet in length, and a probable wingspan of just over double that. His hide however, seemed an unnatural black, like there were original natural colours beneath the shiny onyx scales. No one immediately noticed the fact that he was bleeding from the battle to get to the surface from the moving glacier. Dark crimson liquid only appearing to be a shiny spot on his allready shined obsidian hide. "Pardon my absense, I tarried too long, and have paid in small amounts for that." His gaze travelled to Ethsa, "to adress your earlier question...I recall saying myself that the government is dependant on its monarch, and likewise the monarch its government. Change or remove one, and the other cannot function. However, the government can change with a new monarch easier than any other."
He chuckled, "and you sound as if you fear revolution, as it is only an action for change. Ah...and valid reasons why the queen should go...let us see. She would rather have the rebellion, or any such related action, put down by force rather than words. She's never tried diplomatic relations before, only quashing by any means necessary. One begins to wonder how desparate one would be to go to such lengths...and wonder about what they are more concerned with, their own monarchy? or the state's overall condition. We cannot know, because she doesen't talk, its only forceful action that in the past...has resulted in unwanted bloodshed." The obsidian dragon sighed, "now give me a reason why she's still an able leader."
"To put it simply," Ethsa replied, "I cannot. Estantia?" she looked to the light dragon, who winced.
"I think it's fair to say they have a point, she insulted Erador, who was being civil and assured us everyhting was under control and she could deal with a few unhappy people," she sighed, "I can't actually come up with anything in defence for her actions, you have the right of this argument." The light dragon's head turned, "Flarex! You got enough calm to heal a cut on this one?"
"Sure! Just one second," Flarex turned from another scrape and jumped into the air to clear the black dragon, gently soothing the cut with his balm.
"So, what do all you adults think after hearing his explanation?" Estantia asked in the quiet that descended.
Parents conversed with elders, elders with young adults, young adults with parents. Heads nodded in both the affirmative and negative, there seemed no real order. Prometheon and Adromeda were actually talking between one another hammering out their decision. No one noticed besides Flarex, that where the balm was applied, not only did it heal the gashes, but changed the color of the dragon's scales from their jet black, to a pearlescent dark sapphire and emerald hybrid colour that changed between the two dominant shades with shifts in light. Hissing accompanied silver sparks, likely magic, also lifted from where the balm was applied, the still primarily black dragon didn't seem to take notice...yet.
Erador loped around to the center rear of the gathered adult volunteers and sat like a feline contemplating a plot to catch a tricky prey. Equinox moved along to his side and almost mirrored his posture, -what is your thoughts dragon father?- she asked with respect to dragon tradition. -The arguement is sound, the ice realm has encountered one issue before of rebellion, not the greatest total of all the realms, but a fair number seeing that this is yet its second. Both were during Queen Eyes of Frost rule. Looking at it numbers wise, its only a matter of time, and shorter that is that another rebellion will form, likely in force for a third time if this one fails. The third will be all action, no diplomacy, and will topple the Queen at the expense of her blood. That, has to be prevented at all cost, the only prevention is either coming to a compromise and dissuading any further rebellion in the future, or having a new Queen and having the same end result. It would seem the later would be the logical answer, logically.- Erador responded thoughtfully actually to all present to help gather order of thought.
"Only of course...the Queen herself would like to add her words perhaps. Whom would all agree to that?" called out Erador, his voice booming over the small crowd. Nodding spread from whence Erador stood to as far as the obsidian dragon directly sixty yards in front of Erador across the groups. The obsidian dragon, acted as if Erador was just another monarch, but his acting was flawed...he wouldn't make eye contact. But the light king took no notice. "Now that you've had time to consider, what is your decision fellows?" more or less ordered, but kindly, ordered Erador calling upon the group again.
Anabraxaz's father stood and faced Erador, "I believe, that we would like to hear what the Queen has to say about all of this before we make our ultimate decision...all of us though, including...the rebels." This notion brought a stir through the crowds, the rebels twitched uneasily, conversing quickly with each other. A clap sounded through the air; the obsidian dragon had snapped open his wings for quiet, "very well...we too, shall go. Of course only if we are granted safe voyage to see her."
"Then it shall be done...come, let us not tarry, it is yet just two hours before sunset," warned Erador stretching out his wings at forty-five degree angles. "What of us?" asked the dragoness rebel who challenged Meridian about a youngster's worthyness to be heard. Equinox provided a suitable answer, "my home, will be your home tonight so we can talk with Queen Frosteyes as soon as possible in the morning." "That would be...agreeable," said Althiren looking at the faces of his comrades for reaction.
Amoungst the flurry to organize into flying groups of families and friends again, the obsidian dragon hissed at Flarex, "that would be quite enough of your...balm, boy." Then proceeded to follow out after Estantia and Ethsa, leaving a bewildered Flarex alone with Set. The obsidian dragon's colour changed scales reverted back to black with a flurry of silver sparks. Meridian took notice first astride Equinox at the front, she kept her pace however preparing for flight, -what is the matter brother? come, don't tarry, you'll be left behind.- Came her mental voice over the sweet percussion of many wings lifting to the skies.
Flarex swiftly caught up with his family and stayed level with them and Set, though Flarex was silently considering the sparks that had danced under his talons. Why would anyone need to stay in disguise, and why the strange eye colour also? a mystery that would be solved in time he felt...
Meanwhile Set and Ethsa were flying with their parents before rejoining Equinox's group, "They're allowing us to stay at yours for the time being," Ethsa explained, "They seem to think it's a good idea for us to be near the rebels to talk to them and understand." Estantia nodded and for a moment her own form shimmered slightly out of the corner of anyone's eye, but only enough to be mistaken as sunlight on scales unless you knew better. Ethsa found herself flying over to the black dragon, curious to hear what he had to say, "You don't seem like the other rebels... why?"
The obsidian coloured dragon chuckled, "I seem different? Its allways an interesting question pointing out differences like that. For one, I'm much older than all of them, tempered by time and a touch of wisdom." He glided along for a time silently, "upbringing was probably considerable different than most, however that I shall not reveal."
"Your scales too, they don't shine like other dragons', they're... matt, which is not a natural state for any dragon's scales." Ethsa pointed out, motioning to her own ice blue ones that glinted as if they were ice about to melt. "I wouldn't expect you to reveal your upbringing though."
The dragon sighed, "my scales...a weakness that I try not to reveal. Its a disease, because of my heritage, there is too much of one thing, and too little of another in my scales. The result is widespread cellular death, but its non-deadly, nor contagious." He looked at Ethsa, "so besides my scales, why do you think I'm different?"
"You're not an idiot hothead alit by rage," Ethsa said after a pause, "You listened to reason and you hid out of sight, somewhat different from a typical rebel, no?" she looked across, apparently just curious, but with sharp eyes.
A messenger flooded into the Emerald Kings palace a letter in hand. The seal was that of the Ice Queen. Not waiting for an approval on the read, the messenger read the letter.
On orders of the Ice Queen, Frost, I have been sent unto thee to read this letter.
Emerald King, I request your young assistants aid, and even your own if you see fit. It is, in a matter of speaking an emergency. I leave this letter with a hopeful submittance of the deepest urgency for help.
The Ice Queen, Frost
Chuckling at some of her words, the black dragon looked across at her, matching her gaze, "I suppose by that comparison, yes there is differences there as well." He sighed, "we've troubled times ahead...and only the young, and or the young of mind are willing to be flexible enough to weather them. I do hope that through the foundation of youth, that the progressing stories of age will be able to shift as well."
Meanwhile, at the head of the group, the emerald Light King flew abeam of Estantia, "someone needs to talk to Queen Frosteyes, to tell her of the plans to have all of us and the rebels hold council and speak with her. I cannot do it because she would no more listen to me than drink poison I fear." He paused in his thoughts for a moment, "there are some prominant ice dragons here whom could talk to her, however, I nominate you to have a few words with her before we all do. Seeing as that you two are friends...of course. Would that be agreeable Estantia?"
Frost sighed. Where were they? Didn't she send a messenger for help? Maybe he hadn't made it or they were being to stubborn to listen. Wait...what if they weren't there? Phht. There was no time for this. "What is the matter?"
"This one was hit by a fire bomb...they don't think he made it off the front lines..." a nurse said wheeling another dead body in. "Damn rebels.."
Estantia nodded, "true, I was thinking a quiet chat with the leaders would be a good plan, so maybe myself, Ethsa, Equinox and... -I'm sorry, what was your name?- she asked the black dragon with a slight turn of her head. -I am going to talk to the Queen, and I wish to have leaders from both camps with me.-
Ethsa nodded her assent to the plan and caught up to Estantia quickly, folding her wings to corkscrew before flying level again with a grin, "Would you come with us Erador? Your choice."
-Perhaps it would be best if Althiren went in my place Estantia.- Responded the black dragon, a little troubled. Erador snorted some white smoke from his nostrils, "I wish to participate..." he said with hesitation, subconciously flexing the talons on his right forepaw. "We can discuss what to discuss with the Queen over dinner," offered Equinox loud enough for most to hear, earning her happy growls all around. Erador glided along for a time more before a familiar sapphire dart with wings pulled up alongside him, it was Kiko. -Sire, what can I do?- she asked tenatively. -I believe it would be fine if you'd like to join, you might have some interesting insights into what is really driving the whole mechanics of all this,- responded Erador thoughtfully.
Erador looked towards Estantia, -Kiko is wishing to come along, I actually endorse the idea because of her history, she might have some insights she hasen't shared before. Insights, well...information she's gotten when she was in the 30th clan. Might prove of much use. We should talk to her in private however.-
Further down the flying group towards the outer center flew Nihara, talking with Adromeda and Prometheon, Anabraxaz not far behind, slightly to Adromeda's right. "Doesen't the Light King remind you of father?" the youngest in the conversation pointed out in observation. Prometheon sighed, "just because he is to a light dragon doesen't mean there's a relation." "Nihara never said there was a relation present," pointed out Adromeda mildly. Prometheon fell silent biting his tongue and looked the oopposite direction a ways. "Great, lets talk as if I'm not here," said Nihara, a bit irritated. "Do you think that there may be a relation Nihara?" asked Anabraxaz, trying to put chaos to order. Nihara shrugged, causing his flight pattern to swoop up and down through the motion. "Its far fetched, I guess that was one of my thoughts."
Meridian dove into the middle of the group from above, having travelled from the opposing edge of the group, chatting with rebels. "Sorry, I was eves dropping, and heard a fascination conversation over here," she confessed with minor giggles. "Aye sister, an interesting conversation...what do you think?" asked Nihara. "I think," she began thoughtfully, and a mite smug, "...I think, that we could judge if he's related by looking at traits that would be inherited through genes." Nihara rolled his eyes, Prometheon however perked up, "smart idea Meridian...what physical traits exactly?" "Oh there's hundreds," she said whilst gesticulating a forepaw carelessly.
"Could you please narrow the field and cut the know-it-all business?" spat Nihara, earning him a warning look to keep it cool from both his eldest siblings. "Yes Nihara, most of the simple ones include things like eyecolour, number of talons per foot, overall wingspan to bodylength ratios, scale colouration, colouration of the inside of the mouth." She took a breath and continued, "numbers of spikes down the back, or spikes at all for that matter. Colour of the talons, number of teeth, and growth rate are some of the more prominant traits."
Anabraxaz sighed, "joy, I know I'm no good at predicting genetics." "Have hope Ana," crooned Adromeda, "simplifying what we look for when comparing father and King Erador will dispell many headaches." Nihara swooped above his siblings for a better searching view, "ah there's Flarex...and Set, good." "What's your idea?" queried Prometheon, "my idea is to have Set shroud himself with some of that tricky magic he learned, and look Erador over for some of the traits listed." "Even better, I could do it," added Merdian letting out a signature bugle into the air, signature as a unique call that only her brothers and sisters used to call one another over. Prometheon let out another of the same bugle in case Flarex had not heard the first.
Flarex gently swooped over, answering to the call easily, with Set not far behind. Sometimes those two practically seemed joined at the hip... "What's up?" Set asked cheerfully as they coated in, "Or rather, what do you want us to do now?"
Estantia thought quietly before speaking, -Yes Erador, I would say Kiko's fine to come, Flarex might not be a bad idea too as he's a healer. However...- her attention turned to hte black dragon, -I really do think you ought to come with us, you know what you are talking about and can argue well to put your point across, to put it mildly? Althiren can't.-
-He's a hothead,- Ethsa commented, -You're not, won't you come and help your cause?-
Throwing caution to the wind, or at least in his mind, the black dragon sighed, and pulled ahead to the front of the group, gliding in to Estantia's left, making sure he had at least a full dragon or two between him and Erador. "Alright, I will come, I suppose you can argue well to put your point across as well...to put it mildly," he said chuckling, almost nervously. "Very well," began Erador, "the Queen shall hear us, seeing as we are prepared, it no longer matters if she is or not. Some things happen on their own ready schedules. As one man said before I might recall, the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few."
"Great, I wanted the both of you actually," began Nihara excitedly. "Wait, before you guys groan and roll your eyes, here's my plan." "The plan is to have you guys help to shroud one of us with your magic so we can spy on the Light King safely and see similar physical traits between father and him, and us," interjected Meridian with a slight monotone. Nihara hissed steam and nipped at her tail. She swatted him across the nose with her tail's tip and continued, "I know what to look for, can you shroud me?" she asked Flarex and Set.
The brother in question tilted his head and blinked a bit, "I've got an even better idea... Why don't you just ask him or mum? It's not like it's hard to do it and they're likely to know too." FLarex shrugged, "I could do it if you want."
Ethsa glided forward to coast beneath the black dragon and Estantia with a grin, "And once more the girls win..." she quipped with a grin as she looked over at Erador, "Why so pensieve? This can't be worse than what youv've faced bofore, it's only one dragon at least," Ethsa pointed out, "So why do you look so thoughtful and sad?"
"And I believe that quote was from Surak if I remember rightly, nothing like spreading culture between universes..." Estantia tipped a wink as she noted how cautiously the unnaturally blck dragon moved up to them, or more precisely to Erador. Sheesh what had that King bloomin' well done now...?
Meridian was a little put out, "but that would be too easy," she protested. Adromeda felt a little guilty for playing along. She glided back to Anabraxaz, just above him, so that her belly grazed his back from time to time, their wingbeats in perfect unison. She shared a few words in his ear before returning beside Prometheon. Nihara noticed the exchange and Anabraxaz's momentary reaction, "what's so important that you can't share it with us Adromeda?" he asked, somewhat demanding though. "There's lots of things Ana and I share that my siblings aren't privy too," she said snappishly. "That's it, my curiousity has the better of me, I'll be back with the answer," announced Prometheon before darting off towards the front of the group.
The black dragon looked below at Ethsa, "females can't allways win, that would be a rather sower balance. Besides, if males were wrong most of the time, why are you following my opinions now with your wings?" he responded with a grin.
Erador's attention snapped around to a few objects before resting on Ethsa's question, "oh, I'm sorry...I must point out that you can't allways think a contemplative induvidual to have something of the matter on his or her mind. However, this induvidual does, my observant child." The king didn't elaborate more, only pushed his wings faster when seeing that they would have only minutes before the sun crept below the peaks to the horizon.
"Right you are Estantia. Wisdom comes from all places, its nice to spread it about to better the whole instead of its parts." Erador looked back towards the dying sun, and closed his eyes. Damn, why did he have this weakness turn up now of all times for him to discover and stew over. It was most distracting, why had he forgotten anyways? What were the connections between the major entities in play now and his past? Silly compartmentalized three lobed brain...can't find a single useful memory in all the abundant gray matter, not one helpful neuron of trillions. He sighed and voyaged on, flying helped keep his mind focused on the present, not what influences the present and what has been forgotten.
The female light-dragon sighed, bottling things up never helped anyone... and she could plainly see that Erador was probably kicking himself for something that wasn't his fault again, or that happened to everyone. With a sigh Estantia listened to the younger dragons banter... well.. technically they were older in age but never mind.
"I'm not saying girls always win," protested Ethsa, "Not only was it a joke, but also a way of saying another point for the girls rather than a point for the boys, do you see what I mean?" Ethsa titled her head as she smiled, "Besides, I thought you might actually get the joke, and that's a compliment."
"Forgive me then Ethsa. But, there is some truth in saying that once again girls win in a battle of wits. It happens more often that way than it does with males. Its simply just how we're wired. Overall, girls have a better connected brain, males...don't. Besides, evolution brought us up so that females are mostly superior to the males genetically in almost every race. Its a thing us boys just accept, generally the girl is correct as a rule, because they are. Its a proven fact nearly. But, us boys manage the best we can, and still do very well, most of the time. But, the thing that vexes all boys, are the girls, always."
...
The Skies RP Page#9
The Skies RPG
[Draymond]'s house
[Estantia]'s house
[The Dizzy Raven]'s house
[eyes of frost]'s house
Stumble!